Connecting means for shaker conveyer troughs



Jan.' 21, 1947. R. s. BIGELow 2,414,710

CONNEGTING MEANS FOR SHAKER CONVEYER TROUGHS Filed sept. 4. 1945 2-sneets-sheet 1 A nvm/E Y Jan. 2l, 1947. R. s. BIGELow v 2,414,710

CONNEGTING MEANS FOR SHAKER CONVEYER TROUGHS Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2`SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTING MEANS FOR SHAKER CONVEYER TROUGHS Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,297

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in trough connecting means for shaker conveyers, and has as its principal objects to provide an improved and simplied form of readily detachable means for positively connecting the troughs of a shaker conveyer trough line together.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tongue and groove type of connecting means for the troughs of a shaker conveyer trough line, similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,299.005, which issued October 13, 1942, and provide an improved form oi connecting means for detachably holding the tongues in engagement with the grooves, whichis always connected with one of the troughs of the conveyer and which may readily be engaged with the other trough of the conveyer, to lock the troughs in connected relation with respect to each other by a simple operation, as by a turning movement of the connecting means by the hand, to move the connecting means to an engaging position and to lock the connecting means into position by the blow of a hammer.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following speciiication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of adjacent ends of two troughs of a shaker conveyer trough line with certain parts of the troughs broken away and shown in substantially horizontal section in order to show the connecting means constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the troughs shown in Figure l, drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1 and showing certain parts of the connecting means for the troughs in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 4 4 of Figure 1, with part of one of the troughs broken away in order to more clearly show certain details of the trough connecting means of my invention;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure 3 and showing a modified form of clamping means for holding the troughs in connected relation with respect to each other; and

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing certain other details of the modified connecting means than are shown in Figure 5.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, two shaker conveyer troughs Ill,

I 0 are shown as being mounted on a ball frame I I and as being connected together in overlapping relation with respect to each other. Said troughs are each of a usual construction having a ilat bottom and outwardly inclined ared sides I2, I2, and while herein shown as being connected in overlapping relation, may also be connected in abutting relation in cases where it is desired that the conveyer be reversible.

The ball frame II may be of any well known form and is herein shown as including a lower frame member I4 suitably held in xed relation with respect to the ground during operation of the conveyer and as having an upper frame member I5 mounted on and guided for reciprocable movementtherealong on balls I6, I6.

The upper frame member I5 of the ball frame I I is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, upright ears IT, I'I at opposite sides thereof and spaced laterally from opposite sides of the troughs I0, I0 (see Figure 3). Said ears are adapted to form a pivotal support for a recessed member I8 which is secured to and extends along the bottom of one trough in advance of the end thereof, and upwardly along opposite sides thereof. Said recessed member has laterally extending portions I 9, I9 at its upper extremities, projecting laterally from opposite sides of the trough in a substantially horizontal direction. Supporting legs 2B, 20 are secured to the undersides of said laterally extending upper ends of said recessed member and depend therefrom. A pivotal pin 2I is mounted in each of said support legs adjacent the lower end thereof. Said pins project outwardly from said legs and are pivotally mounted in the ears Il, I1. Cotter keys 22, 22 may be provided to retain said pins to said ball frame.

The recessed member I8 has a channel or groove 23 extending therealong across the bottom of the conveyer trough and upwardly along opposite sides thereof, and along the laterally projecting ends I9, I 9 thereof. 'I'he sides of said groove are inclined outwardly from the bottom thereof to form a substantially wedge-shaped recess, which is adapted to receive a substantially wedgeshaped tongue 24 depending from the adjacent conveyer trough I Il and herein shown as being spaced inwardly from the end thereof. Said tongue extends across the bottom `and upwardly along opposite sides of said adjacent conveyer trough and conforms to the form of the groove 23 and has portions 26, 26 projecting laterally from its upper extremities which extend along and engage the laterally projecting portions I9, I9 of the recessed member I8.

The means for holding the tongue 24 in engagement with the groove 23 during reciprocation of the conveyer, as shown in .Figures l to 4 inclusive, comprises eyebolts 25, 25 pivotally mounted on the depending support legs 2S, 2U on cotter keys 21, 2I for pivotal movement with respect to said legs about axes extending longitudinally of the conveyer. Said depending legs and the laterally extending end I3 of the recessed member I8 are slotted in a direction extending transversely of the conveyer, in alignment with the eyebolt 25 to permit said eyebolt to be pivotedupwardly into said slotted portion. 'Ihe laterally projecting portions 26, 26 of the tongue 24 are similarly slotted in a direction extending transversely of the conveyer trough to receive said eyebolts when said tongue is engaged with said groove and said eyebolts are pivotally moved in an upward direction.

Each eyebolt 25 is provided with a slot 3U extending thereacross and longitudinally of the trough line. Each of said slots is adapted to slidably receive a key 3| which has an inclined upper surface, so inclined that when said key is hit a blow with a hammer, the lower surface thereof will be wedged into engagement with the upper side of the laterally projecting portion 2e of the tongue 24, to positively hold said tongue in engagement with the groove 23.

A guide member 33 is mounted on the eyebolt 25 and extends along opposite sides of said key and has an vunder surface inclined in a direction opposite to the angle of inclination or the upper inclined surface of said key, and engages said upper inclined surface to form a guide for said key and force said key into engagement with the laterally projecting portion 2E of the tongue 24, when knocked into position by a hammer. Said key has a retaining member 3ft secured to the upper side thereof as by a machine screw 35, which overlaps a flange 3d formed integrally with the lower end of a nut 3l, threaded on said eyebolt. Said nut besides retaining said guide member on said eyebolt, also serves to form an adjusting means for said guide member and key, to take care of wear thereof.

In connecting the troughs Ill, IE! together, the overlapping end of the trough In. may be lifted to engage the tongue 2d with the groove 23. The eyebolts 25, 25 may then be pivoted upwardly into the slots formed in the ends of the legs Eil, 26, laterally projecting' portions IQ, IQ of the recessed member It, and laterally projecting portions 25, 26 of the tongue 2d. The key Z'BI may then be given a blow with a hammer, to positively engage the upper surfacek of said key with the top of said tongue, to lock said eyebolt in position.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figures and fi, the same tongue and groove connection between the troughs is provided as in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, and adjacent ends of the troughs II), Iii are mounted on the ball frame II in the same manner as in Figures l to 4, inclusive, so the description of this connection and mounting need not be repeated and the part numbers applied in Figures l to i inclusive will be applied to the same parts in Figures 5 and 6.

In Figures 5 and 6, support legs 60, il depend from the laterally projecting portions i9, I@ of the recessed member I8, and are transversely piv- Aoted near their lower ends to the ears I'I,VII of the ball frame I I. A U-shaped connecting member 4I is pivotally mounted on one of its legs 42 in each depending support leg 40 for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the conveyor. A nut i3 is mounted on the end of the leg 32, to retain said connecting member to said leg. Said connecting members `are adapted to be pivoted upwardly by hand until opposite legs lid, 44 are in engagement with the top of the laterally projecting portions 26, 2B o1 the tongue 2d. Said legs may then be hit a blow with a hammer to securely engage them with the tops of said laterally projecting portions 25, 26 of said tongue, to hold said tongue in engagement with the groove 23Yduring operation of the conveyer. A stop 5' is formed integrally with the upper surfacev of each of said laterally projecting portions o said tongue, to limit movement of said connecting members with respect to said tongues.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangementof the various parts thereof may be altered Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specic embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a .shaker conveyer, a reciprocable support, a recessed member substantially conforming to the cross section ofthe conveyer troughs and having a groove extending for its entire length, said recessed member being secured to the bottom of one trough, adjacent one end thereof, and depending from and extending across the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and terminating into laterally projecting portions projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of said trough, and a projecting tongue conforming to the form of said recessed member and connected with an adjacent end of another trough and extending valong the bottom of said lasty named trough and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, said tongue being adapted to engage the groove of said recessed member for the entire length thereof, means engaging said laterallyV projecting portions of said recessed member and said tongue for holding said tonguer in engagement with the groove of said recessed member, and a leg depending from each side, of the lower of said laterally projecting portions and having pivotal connection with said reciprocating support fory supporting said end of an adjacent troughon said support. l Y

2. In a connecting means for adjacent ends of Ithe troughs of a shaker conveyer, a reciprocable support, a recessed member substantially conforming to the cross section of the conveyer troughs and having agroove extending for its entire length, said recessed member being secured to the bottom of one trough, adjacent one end thereof, and depending from and extending across the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and terminating into laterally projecting portions projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of said trough, a leg depend.-

ing from each of said laterally projecting portions and having pivotal connection with said reciprocating support for supporting said end of said trough on said support, and a projecting tongue conforming to the form of said recessed member and connected with an, adjacent end of another trough and extending along the bottom of said trough and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, said tongue being adapted to engage the groove of said recessed member for the entire length thereof, means engaging said laterally projecting portions of said recessed member and said tongue for holding said tongue in engagement with the groove of said recessed member, said projecting portions of said tongue and said recessed member being slotted in a direction extending transversely of said troughs and opening to the outer sides thereof, and said holding means being insertible into said slotted portions.

3. A trough connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a shaker conveyer including a reciprocable support, a recessed member connected with one trough adjacent one end thereof and extending along the bottomV and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, a projecting tongue connected with an adjacent end of another conveyer trough and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of said recessed member, a leg depending from each of said laterally projecting portions of one trough and pivotal connections between said legs and said reciprocable support, to support adjacent ends of said troughs on said support, and connecting members having pivotal connection with said depending legs for movement with respect thereto about axes extending longitudinally of said troughs and movable upwardly into engagement with said laterally projecting portions of said other trough for holding said tongue in engagement with the recess of said recessed member.

4. A trough connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a shaker conveyer including a reciprocable support, a recessed member connected with one trough adjacent one end thereof and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, a projecting tongue connected with an adjacent end of another conveyer trough and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of said recessed member, a leg depending from each of said lateral projecting portions of one trough and pivotal connections between said legs and said reciprocable support, to support adjacent ends of said troughs on said support, and resilient U-shaped connecting members having pivotal connection on one of their legs with said depending legs for movement with respect thereto about axes extending longitudinally of said troughs and pivotally movable uping tongue connected with anadja-cent end of another conveyer trough and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of said recessed mem-ber, said projecting portions of said tongue and recessed member being slotted and opening towards the outer sides thereof in alignment with each other and providing a means to readily receive a connecting means to hold said tongue in engagement with said recess, said connecting means including bolts pivotally connected to said projecting portions of one of said troughs for movement about axes extending longitudinallymof said troughs and being pivotally movable into said slotted portions for engagement with said projecting portions of said other trough.

6. In a trough connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a shaker conveyer, a recessed member connected with one trough adjacent one end thereof and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, a projecting tongue connected with an adjacent eind of another conveyor trough and extending along the bottoni and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of said recessed member, said projecting portions of said tongue and recessed member being slotted and opening towards the outer sides thereof in alignment with each other and providing a means to readily receive connecting bolts to hold said tongue in engagement with said recess, said eonnecting bolts being pivotally connected to said projecting portions of one of said troughs for movement about axes extending longitudinally of said troughs, and a wedge-shaped key slidably mounted in each of said connecting bolts and adapted to engage a projecting portion of said other trough for locking said connecting bolts into position in said slotted portions and holding said troughs in connected relation with respect to each other.

7. In a trough connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a shaker conveyer, a recessed member connected with one trough adjacent one end thereof and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, a projecting tongue connected with an adjacent end of another conveyer trough and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides thereof and having projecting portions extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of said recessed member, said projecting portions of' said tongue and recessed member being slotted. and opening towards the outer sides thereof in alignment with each other and providing a means to readily receive a connecting means to hold said tongue in engagement with said recess, said connecting means including bolts pivotally connected to said projecting portions ofV one of said troughs for movement about axes extending longitudinally of said troughs, a wedge-shaped key slid. ably mounted in each of said connecting bolts for engagement with a projecting portion of said other trough for locking said connecting bolts into position in said slotted portions, and a nut 7 threaded on said bolt for adjusting said key to take care of wear thereof.

`8. In a trough connecting means for adjacent ends of the troughs of a shaker conveyer, a recessed member connected with one trough adjacent one end thereof and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said trough and having projecting portionsl extending laterally beyond opposite sides thereof, a projecting tongue connected with an adjacent end of another conveyer trough and extending along the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides thereof, said tongue being adapted to engage the recess of 'said recessed member, said projecting portions of said tongue and recessed member being slotted and opening towards the outer sides thereof in alignment with each other and providing a 8 means to readily receive a connecting means to hold said tongue in engagement with said recess, said connecting means including bolts pivotally connected to said projecting portions of oneofV 10 said bolt and having slidable engagement with said key for locking said connecting bolts into position in said slotted portions, and a nut threaded on said bolt and having engagement with said guiding member to take care of wear of said key l5 and guiding member.

ROY S. BIGELOW. 

